title: Deregulation of hyaluronan synthesis, degradation and binding promotes breast cancer.
abstract: Clinical and experimental data indicate that hyaluronan accumulates in breast cancer compared with normal breast epithelium, which correlates to poor prognosis. In this review, we discuss the expression of genes encoding enzymes that synthesize or degrade hyaluronan, i.e. hyaluronan synthases and hyaluronidases or bind hyaluronan, i.e. CD44 and receptor for hyaluronan-mediated motility (RHAMM, also designated as HMMR or CD168), in relation to breast cancer progression. Hyaluronan and hyaluronan receptors have multi-faceted roles in signalling events in breast cancer. A better understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying these signalling pathways is highly warranted and may lead to improvement of cancer treatment.
authors.affiliation: Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Biomedical Center, Box 595, SE-75124 Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: Paraskevi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Heldin
authors.forename: Kaustuv
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Basu
authors.forename: Berit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Olofsson
authors.forename: Helena
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Porsch
authors.forename: Inna
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kozlova
authors.forename: Kaoru
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kahata
mesh_terms: D001665:Binding Sites; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors / Q000378:metabolism; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid
keywords: CD44; breast cancer; hyaluronan; hyaluronan synthases